STAND. COM. REP. NO. 62-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2015

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2015 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an institute within the William S. Richardson School of Law to be known as Hookaulike: A Criminal Legal System Institute for Restoration and Healing (Hookaulike).

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that Hookaulike would help to address the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other communities of color in the State's correctional system. The goal is to create an inclusive and fair criminal legal system devoted to restoration and healing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Streamlining the purpose section to narrow the scope of the legislative intent;

(2) Including county and nonprofit agencies and organizations, as well as the Criminal Justice Research Institute of the Judiciary, as conduits for regular reporting and consultation;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2015, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2015, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair